Hello one and all, both regular readers and newcomers, welcome to another mothly update from life here just outside of Bristol at the Tree Life Centre! I know I say this every blog, but we really have been busy this month, perhaps the busiest month I’ve known in my time here…no doubt, as usual, I’ve missed something but here goes anyway!
Out enjoying the sun seed collecting.
First off, we began the month enjoying the warm weather (that seems like more than a month ago now!) by getting in some last minute seed collecting. Groups of volunteers went on trips to Cock Road Ridge and Warmley Forest Park to forage for nature seeds and nuts for both trees and wildflowers. There was much more fun had upon returning when sorting out the seeds and in some cases getting messy with the berries too! With the planting still taking place now and plenty more seeds stoored in the dry hopefully we will have a bumper crop in the coming months!
Just a small selection of seeds planted
The first Saturday of the month saw our Big Green Weekend event. A huge thank you to everyone who braved the weather and attended this year. We hope you enjoyed visiting us and getting involved with the pruning and tree advice/planting workshops, willow weaving and of course who could forget the return of Barry the Badger! We hope to see you all again soon, either as visitors or you were inspired to come and join in and volunteer with TCV.
Just one of the pruning workshops in progress with Bob.
As you might already be aware from previous posts we are currently in the middle of redeveloping the site, which includes creating an educational tree trail in the public area. This has resulted in us potentially losing some growing and storage space to make way for the walkway so the only answer was to clear areas of bramble around the corner. With everyone getting involved, three areas pretty much cleared during the month leaving masses of cut back bramble and hedgerows which unfortunatly meant the only realistic way to get rid of it was by burning it, apologies to out neighbours for having to put up with a smoky fires recently! In the process we have also had a masss sort out of aroumd half our pots due to relocating some bays. A huge thank you to the volunteers for all their efforts put in to the mamoth task, there will be plenty more to do as always!
Dare you enter?!
Finally, we rounded off the month with a halloween fun day! As it was half term we decided to open our doors on the friday for lots of spooky fun for the kids. Among other things we had apple bobbing with a lot of wet souls, broomstick making out of willow, pumpkin carving and lantern making. Fortunatly we managed to keep our resident werewolf under control, he only scared a couple of unsuspecting children (and a few adults too!).
One of our new recruits!
Don’t forget now the weather is getting colder bare root planting season is virtually upon us. If you are interested in buying any native trees and hedgerow, or a lovely apple tree then please do get in touch.
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